Jupiter 3 question

[payasam]

All the lenses I have for my Zorki (35, 55, 85) are f/2.8 ones. I feel the need of a normal with one more stop. The obvious choice is a Jupiter 8, but the Jupiter 3 tempts me because I understand that it is optically good at f/2 and smaller, with f/1.5 offering sometimes useful effects similar to the Summarit. Would someone please put me on the right track.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

I've shown this image time and time again to illustrate what a good copy of this lens can do. Now I have the Sonnar that it was copied from, but this lens lives on in my mind as one of the first really good lenses I had.

Oh, and that's wide open.

 

[the_jim]

The Jupiter-3 is very cool. I was amazed at how small mine (an '86 black model) is.

Obviously, it's not anywhere near as sharp as my Zeiss Planar, but I don't expect it to be. Also, I still want to get mine adjusted.

Here is a sample taken at f/1.5 at about 1 meter:

This is around f/2-ish:

This one is around f/2.8-ish:

All-in-all, a very cool, relatively cheap lens, that offers a very different look than my more modern Zeiss.

 

[payasam]

Stephanie and Jim, your pictures tend to confirm my impression. Thanks. Nothing like seeing what a lens can do.

 

[the_jim]

Anyone else? I think this is a popular lens. There have been other J-3 photo threads in the past, but let's see some recent images.

 

[Bluesman]

http://www.fotosidan.se/gallery/viewlarge.htm?ID=1036533&target=_blank

and

http://www.fotosidan.se/gallery/viewlarge.htm?ID=1035353&target=_blank

Bessa R2A, Tmax100, J3

/R

 

[the_jim]

Bluesman,

Nice shots!

The first is delightfully soft - looks really vintage.

 

[darkkavenger]

enjoy some Jupiter-3 delicatessen : http://www.flickr.com/photos/darkkavenger/tags/jupiter3/ ;-)

 

[the_jim]

Darkkavenger -

Lots of cool photos in that pool! What a beautiful place you live in.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

f/2, no hood, at something like ISO 3200 on Tri-X or TMY developed in Rodinal.

 

[Didier]

Payasam

Speed matters, so a J-3 is to be preferred over a J-8, especially since you already have several f2.8 lenses. I strongly recommend a chrome one from 1965 or earlier. It seems these are better in terms of quality control than the newer black ones, where there are more lemons than good ones. I ordered one six weeks ago, it was completely off focus, now way to adjust (thread here), and now the replacement sample from the seller is somewhere between Moscow and Zurich. Let's preach this will work... Others reported similiar troubles with black ones.

But once you have found a well working J-3, you'll enjoy it's speed and extremely smooth bokeh. Good luck.

Didier

 

[raid]

Here are some results with 50mm lenses:

1. J-3 50/1.5

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5288274

2. J-8 50/2

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5288213

3. Summitar 50/2
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5288243


4. Canon 50/1.2
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5288268


5. Summicron 50/2 first version
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5288200


There are many excellent 50mm lenses out there. Take your pick.
The J-3 is a great lens.

Raid

 

[40oz]

both the J-3 and J-8 are great. You never really hear about anyone having a problem with the J-8's, and they are a true bargain, so I'd pick one up if you can. The J-3 in LTM mount seems to give some people fits until it is adjusted, while other people (like myself) have had no problems. You might try to find one from someone closer than Eurasia if you have your heart set on a J-3, or buy from a shop rather than a random ebay seller.

 

[rxmd]

Here's a J-3 shot wide open from my Bessa R:

Camera: Japanese
Lens: Russian
Model: Turkish
Location: Germany

All very international 🙂

 

[lubitel]

 

[lubitel]

i hate this link feature. it never works.
really like my J-3
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=27840&ppuser=2635

 

[payasam]

Thanks, all. Max, I notice vignetting in "Wedding II" and in one other photo in your fine set. Didier, I shall play it safe and take what Oleg K. gives me. Good picture, rxmd, specially considering that the lens was wide open. Raid, I take it that the lighting and not the lens is what gives your J-3 picture a slightly sickly cast. 40oz, my geographical considerations are based on my being in India.

 

[40oz]

40oz, my geographical considerations are based on my being in India.

well, then, Eurasia's awfully close 🙂 Shipping via surface mail takes so long between North America and Moscow it gets tedious. Hopefully it's quicker to you.

 

[Marsopa]

Some pics

 

[raid]

Thanks, all. Max, I notice vignetting in "Wedding II" and in one other photo in your fine set. Didier, I shall play it safe and take what Oleg K. gives me. Good picture, rxmd, specially considering that the lens was wide open. Raid, I take it that the lighting and not the lens is what gives your J-3 picture a slightly sickly cast. 40oz, my geographical considerations are based on my being in India.

payasam,
Yes, this is what Tungsten light , mixed with window light can look like with color film. It is not the lens that did it.
Raid